The Two Top Digital Marketing Trends Leading into 2019

One of the biggest mistakes business owners make is relying on marketing methods they’ve been using for years. However, digital marketing is an ever-changing discipline. As online marketer Neil Patel writes, “No matter how successful you already are, you can always improve yourself a little further.”

If a business isn’t continuously improving through the use of new marketing techniques, it’s going to be left behind no matter how successful it is currently.

The below will outline the two top digital marketing trends you need to watch as 2019 approaches.

Social Media Influencers

The number of people who use social media across the globe now reaches nearly 4 billion. It’s not hard to see why using social media influencers is a method a business should be focusing on going into 2019. An incredible 88% of consumers trust online recommendations as much as trusting a friend or family member.

Social media marketing and influencers work exceptionally well together because they do not interrupt a viewer’s browsing time. Your audience is already online, scrolling through its social media feed. When someone already follows the influencer you choose, they are coming across the content organically meaning they are more likely to be receptive.

How can your business make its mark by using social media influencers? You first need to pick a social media platform, such as:

YouTube

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Snapchat

YouTubers especially hold the key to generation Z and Millennial audiences. Over 70% of teens think their favorite YouTubers are more relatable than celebrities. For brands hoping to attract a younger demographic, it may be more profitable to approach a YouTuber than a TV personality or sports star.

Tip: Use social media “stories” to truly engage and interact with consumers.

However, brands need to be aware of theincreased use of ad blocking. A business needs to find a way to appear in social media feeds without the use of pop-ups, as these ultimately turn audiences away. By leaningon the experts at DMG, you can reach the right people at the right time with a social media marketing strategy that’s tailored to your business.

Text Marketing

Over 1 billion people worldwide use mobile devices every single day. It’s not uncommon to see people of all ages transfixed by their smartphone wherever they are, be it on the daily commute or while at home. In 2019, this number is only set to grow, so text marketing is one trend businesses need to take notice of.

Text messages are a highly effective marketing tool. Incredibly, 98% of text messages are opened within three minutes, compared to only 22% of emails. Ignoring an email sitting in your inbox is easy. However, it’s not as easy to overlook a text message that arrives while you are using your smartphone.

What’s more, text marketing is extremely personal; even more so than emails.

Personalization in marketing is one trend which has grown over the past few years, and text marketing is the ideal way to utilize its power. A text message can make a potential consumer feel valued, and 50% of consumers in the U.S. will make a purchase after receiving a personalized marketing text message.

To harness text marketing, remember:

Personalize every part of the message, including the recipient’s name and the sender’s name.

Offer something the recipient will value: a discount, a personal offer, a pre-sale invite, a first-look invite.

Be respectful: just because a specific slang term is considered “on trend,” don’t use it if it could offend.

Be concise and clear with the message.

Every business needs to take note of the latest marketing trends. It doesn’t matter how successful a business currently is as thelatest trends will boost a business above the crowd. Take the time to analyze your business’ needs and consider whether these two trends will help you reach your goals.